Victoria enters new state of emergency
Across metropolitan Melbourne on Sunday 2 August, stage four restrictions began and will continue throughout the city for six weeks.
Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says the new restrictions have been put in place to get community transmission of the virus under control.
Andrews says that without the government’s new strict rules and curfew in place, stage three restrictions would need to last six months.
Here are some of the main things you need to know about the stage four restrictions for Melbourne.
When does the lockdown start?
The stage four restrictions go across metropolitan Melbourne from Sunday 2 August and will carry on for six weeks until Sunday 13 September.
When can I leave my house?
People are only allowed to leave their home for four reasons which includes shopping for groceries and essential items, care and caregiving, exercise and essential work.
Employers must support you to work from home if you can work from home.
In the stage four restrictions, the government has enforced a curfew on Melbourne residents between 8 pm and 5am.
Those who leave their home to give care must be under the following: shared custody arrangements, babysitting, caring for animals housed elsewhere, visiting someone in an aged care home and visiting someone in hospital.
The government has advised that anyone can leave their house if they are at risk of family violence or to apply for an intervention order, and to attend court or a police station.
You can also leave your house to access medical services. This time around, that explicitly includes leaving your house to give blood.
How far can I travel from home?
Those shopping for food and other necessary supplies must not venture out past a 5km distance from their home unless their closest supermarket is over 5km away.
Only one person per household can leave to go shopping per day.
Exercise must also take place within 5km of home, and must be in metropolitan Melbourne.
Exercise is limited to one hour, once per day.
What are the rules for wearing masks?
It has been required for everyone living in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire to wear face coverings in public since midnight on Wednesday 22 July.
That rule is extended to the entire state from midnight Sunday 2 August.
People must wear a mask or covering whenever leaving the house. There are a few exceptions which include people who have a medical reason, or children younger than 12.
Those who have a professional reason are also exempt and “if it’s just not practical, like when running”.
However the government has noted that those people will still be expected to carry a face covering at all times “to wear when you can”.
In schools, teachers will not need to wear a face covering while teaching.
However students attending classes will. Both teachers and students will need to wear a mask on the way to and from school.
Andrews said “common sense” would guide how the new rules are enforced.
Breaking the rules is punishable with a $200 fine.
All local government areas within metropolitan Melbourne will be affected. These include: Banyule, Hume, Moreland, Bayside, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Boroondara, Knox, Nillumbik, Brimbank, Manningham, Port Phillip, Cardinia, Maribyrnong, Stonnington, Casey, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Darebin, Melbourne, Whittlesea, Frankston, Melton, Wyndham, Glen Eira, Monash, Yarra, Greater Dandenong, Moonee Valley, Yarra Ranges, Hobsons Bay.
Regional Victoria will return to stage three restrictions from Wednesday.
Can I have visitors to my house? Can I see my partner?
People are not allowed to have visitors or go to another person’s house unless it is for the purpose or giving or receiving care.
You can leave your house to visit a person if you are in an “intimate personal relationship” with them, even during curfew hours.
If your partner lives outside Melbourne and/or 5km of your home you can still visit them.
What are the rules for exercise?
Exercise is still a permitted reason to leave your house however they are not permitted to leave metropolitan Melbourne to exercise.
So this means long bush walks or leaving Melbourne to go fishing or surfing is no longer permitted.
Exercise can only happen within 5km of home, and must be in metropolitan Melbourne. Exercise is limited to one hour, once per day.
Swimming pools, playgrounds and gyms will be shut, and community sport will also stop.
You can exercise with one other person, including members of your household. You can also hire a personal trainer.
What is happening with schools?
Year 11 and 12 students, along with all other students, will return to remote learning from Wednesday across Victoria, except for children of permitted workers and vulnerable children.
Childcare and kindergarten classes will be closed except for children of permitted workers and vulnerable children.
What if I break the rules?
Andrews says police will be monitoring traffic seeking to leave metropolitan Melbourne.
Officers have also been granted the ability to enforce the restrictions within the city.
Victoria police can issue on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 to businesses.
Andrews indicated more penalties were being considered.